SOW.docx

23D CIVIL ENGINEER SQUADRON

STATEMENT OF WORK

FISH POND POPULATION ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Current as of: 10 Apr 2012

23d Contracting Squadron Moody AFB GA

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GEORGIA

FEB 2012

1.O. SCOPE

The purpose of this Statement of Work is to obtain an evaluation of game fish population status and health and to provide management recommendations for each of the four impoundments owned by Moody AFB: Mission Lake, Golf Course Pond, Grassy Pond, and Lot Pond. This project will consist of determining game fish species composition, population levels, and health status relative to environmental conditions at each impoundment, with recommendations for future lake management to improve fish populations and overall health parameters.

1.1. Background. Moody AFB is required by Department of Defense and Department of Air Force regulations and federal law to manage its natural resources as part of the overall military mission of the installation. As part of that mission, Moody AFB maintains and manages four impoundments for recreational fishing (Mission Lake, Golf Course Pond, Grassy Pond, and Lot Pond) located in two geographical units (Moody AFB main base and Grassy Pond Recreational Annex). Figure 1 shows the general location of Moody AFB and Grassy Pond Recreational Annex.

1.1. Mission Lake and the Golf Course Pond are located on the Moody AFB main base, 9 miles north of Valdosta, GA, on Bemiss Road (GA Highway 125) (Figure 2). Mission Lake is a 27-acre impoundment created in the 1940s during the construction of the installation. The Golf Course Pond is an 8-acre impoundment located adjacent to the Moody AFB Golf Course and was constructed in the mid-1960s. A concrete boat ramp is available at Mission Lake. There is not a boat ramp at the Golf Course Pond.

1.1.1. Grassy Pond and Lot Pond are located at the Grassy Pond Recreational Annex (GPRA) in southern Lowndes County near Lake Park, GA, and approximately 3 miles north of the Georgia/Florida state line (Figure 3). Grassy Pond is approximately 270-acres in size, and Lot Pond is 44-acres. Both of these ponds are natural in origin, being formed from at least one lime sink. A concrete boat ramp is available at Grassy Pond. There is not a boat ramp at Lot Pond.

FA4830-12-Q-0031

Contract Title: Fish Pond Population Assessment and Management

1.2 Basic Objectives. The basic objectives of this project are 1) to determine the species composition of game fish in each impoundment; 2) to quantify game fish populations in each impoundment; 3) to provide an analysis of the health status of the fish populations in each impoundment; and, 4) to provide management recommendations to enhance fish quality and quantity at each impoundment.

2.0. REQUIREMENTS.

The Contractor, as an independent Contractor and not as an agent of the Government, shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, supplies, and supervision needed to perform all field sampling, computations, map preparations, tables, charts, etc. necessary to accomplish the tasks described in this scope of work. All work shall be performed in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. If any conflicts exist between applicable regulations, the most stringent of the conflicting regulations shall apply. The Government is relying upon the expertise of the Contractor and/or its subcontractor, to comply with all applicable regulations. Under the provisions of this SOW, the Contractor shall accomplish the tasks described below for Moody AFB.

3.0. Field Investigation and Methodology

3.1. Sampling Methodology. Each impoundment will be sampled using standard fish collection techniques to determine fish species composition, population levels, and health status. The following techniques will be employed to collect and analyze fish populations:

a. Electrofishing Sampling: An electrofishing boat will be used to sample the impoundments unless conditions prevent boat access in the smaller ponds (e.g. Golf Course Pond and Lot Pond). Sampling will be conducted at least twice: once during daylight hours and again at night. The boat electrofishing crew will consist of at least a driver and one (1) additional person to collect the stunned fish with a dip net. All captured fish will be placed in the live well or on wet ice for processing.

b. Swingle Seine Haul Analysis: Seining will be used to complement electrofishing collection efficiency and obtain a representative sample. Standard length seines capable of excluding minnows and similarly sized fish will be used to collect additional samples. The length and mesh size of the seine will be determined by the Contractor based upon experience, target species, and site conditions. All captured fish will be kept alive or on wet ice for processing.

c. Relative Weight Analyses: In analyzing the fish population, the Contractor will determine the relative weight of game fish to determine if the fish in the pond are in healthy condition and in balance with the available resources. For the purposes of this contract, relative weight is defined as the ratio of the actual weight of a fish to what a rapidly growing healthy fish of the same length should weigh using standard weight tables for south Georgia.

3.2. Sample Processing.

3.2.1. Taxonomic Identification. All fish captured during sampling activities will be identified to species. The numbers of each species encountered will be summed for each pond and provided as a table in the survey report.

3.2.2. Length/Weight Measurements. At least 30 randomly selected individuals of each species collected will be measured and weighed; if less than 30 individuals are collected, all will be measured. Both total length measurements (distance from closed mouth to extreme tip of the caudal fin) and standard length measurements (distance from the closed mouth to the posterior end of the fleshy caudal peduncle) will be collected. Weight will be recorded individually for all individuals of a species that are measured.

3.2.3. External Anomalies. All fish, including those not measured or weighed, will be examined for the presence of external anomalies. External anomalies are defined as the presence of externally visible skin or subcutaneous disorders or parasites (i.e. deformities, eroded fins, lesions, tumors, diseases, parasites, etc.).

3.2.4 Population Estimation. An estimate of relative abundance of each fish species collected will be determined based on an analysis of the sampling results using standard census techniques for fish in the southeastern U.S. This information will be an integral part of the survey report.

3.3. Environmental Setting. A qualitative analysis of the environmental setting of each pond will be conducted during the fish collection activities. This analysis will include visual estimates of the amount of submerged and aquatic vegetation and any other environmental parameters that may be affecting fish populations and/or health.

4.0. DELIVERABLES.

4.1. Impoundment Population Assessment and Management Report. A report outlining the findings of the fish population assessment and proposed management recommendations will be provided to Moody AFB at the close of the project. This report will contain, but not be limited to, the following:

a. Executive Summary -- A brief summary of the report contents and findings.

b. Introduction -- Short description of Moody AFB and Grassy Pond Recreational Annex, the purpose and objectives of the survey.

c. Methods -- A description of the sampling techniques used to determine fish abundance, population status, and health analyses.

d. Results and Discussions:

1) Description of fish species distribution and abundance for each impoundment, including relative health of the population and average size parameters for each species.

2) Discussion of current condition and health of game fish.

3) Management recommendations to improve the size distribution, species, or quality of game fish in each impoundment.

4) Suggested future research to expand on the results of this study.

e. References -- A list of information source references, persons or agencies contacted, and literature cited.

f. Appendices -- Presentation of any additional information including field notes, tables, photographs, maps, and copies of scientific collecting permits.

4.2 Report Format. All documents will be submitted in hard copy.

5.0 SCHEDULE.

5.1 Field Work. The total time for the field work for this contract is two months from the date of notice to proceed.

5.2 Deliverables. Two copies of the Report will be submitted to the Moody AFB Environmental Management Flight no later than three months following completion of the field investigation activities.

6.0 RESPONSIBILITIES AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.

6.1. Installation Coordination Requirement. The Contractor shall coordinate the data collection and field effort with the Moody AFB Environmental Management Element.

6.2. Permit Requirement. The Contractor shall be responsible for acquiring the appropriate state and federal permits necessary to conduct the fish surveys and collections.

6.3. Qualifications of Contractor Personnel. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing qualified personnel who through education and experience are knowledgeable in the identification and management of native southeastern fish.

6.3.1. Education. The project manager and field supervisor must have successfully completed at least one university degree with an emphasis in zoology, wildlife or fisheries management, biology, or other related discipline with at least 24 semester credits or equivalent in zoology, ichthyology, or wildlife management.

6.3.2 Field Experience. The project manager and field supervisor must have had at least three years (i.e. three full seasons) of practical field experience conducting fish surveys in the southeastern United States.

6.3.3. Local Expertise. The project manager and field supervisor must have a working knowledge of fish species and their management in the southeastern United States.

6.4. Publishing of Inventory Results. All data and materials gathered in the performance of the tasks listed herein will be the property of Moody AFB and will not be used, distributed, or published by the Contractor without specific written permission of the Commander, Moody AFB or his delegated official. The Air Force has the right to decide whether any data collected under the conduct of this cooperative agreement can be disclosed to the general public.

6.5. Safety Requirements. The Contractor shall be responsible for protecting the lives and health of employees and other persons; preventing damage to property, materials, supplies, and equipment; and avoiding work interruptions. The Contractor shall comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) safety and health regulations. The installation will provide all necessary safety and security briefings, installation passes, and escorts required to conduct work on Moody AFB.

6.6. Storage of Contractor-Owned Equipment. The Contractor shall be responsible for the security of Contractor-owned material and equipment. Equipment or materials used in the work requiring storage on the installation shall be placed at sites designated by the Air Force POC.

7.0 DESIGNATED POINTS OF CONTACT

The Contractor shall identify a designated project manager who will be the primary point of contact responsible for project administration. Additionally, the Contractor shall identify all professional personnel assigned to specific tasks identified in this SOW in the form of a table or organizational chart listing names, job titles, and telephone numbers of primary points of contact. The Contractor shall also identify all subcontractors to be used prior to initiating work, and shall provide information about the qualifications of the subcontractors to the installation Point of Contact (POC).

The Contractor shall notify the installation POC of any significant changes in project personnel along with the steps taken/proposed to ensure there are no impacts to the schedule or costs associated with individual tasks. The Moody AFB Technical Point of Contact is:

Mr. Gregory W. Lee, C.W.B.

23 CES/CEAN

3485 Georgia Street Moody AFB, Georgia 31699-1707 Telephone: (229) 257-5881

FAX: (229) 257-5811

E-mail: gregory.lee@moody.af.mil

8.0 DEVIATION FROM THE STATEMENT OF WORK

The Contractor will not depart from nor perform outside this statement of work without the written direction of the Air Force designated Point of Contact. If the Contractor performs such work without written approval, it does so at its own risk.

9.0 FINAL INSPECTION, ACCEPTANCE, AND PAYMENT.

The Contractor’s performance of this project will be monitored by the Moody AFB Environmental Office. Final inspection and acceptance shall be performed by the installation POC, and payment will be made after receipt of the report.

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